Your Golfer Magazines feature on Gabrielle Macdonald

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A special feature on Scotland’s latest star in the ladies game

Gabrielle Macdonald

Born in Edinburgh in 1993, Gabrielle Macdonald is one of Scotland’s rising golfing stars. Having started playing golf at the age of ten, Gabrielle joined Prestonfield Golf Club aged 11 and, three years later, won the Ladies Club Championship aged just 14.

After playing in the under 16 Strokeplay Championships at Craigielaw, Gabrielle joined the golf club and quickly became a valuable member of the club’s successful junior team. Winning the Scottish Junior Team Champions, the Craigielaw team also qualified for the British Finals in La Manga, Spain.

Gabrielle Macdonald has been a member of Craigielaw Golf Club for over ten years and is delighted to now be representing the club as a professional.

Located only 30 minutes’ drive from Edinburgh, Craigielaw caters to all the discerning golfer’s needs.

The course measures 6,601 yards from the Championship tee and is often referred to as a ‘golfers’ paradise’.

Designed by renowned golf course architect, Donald Steel, Craigielaw is relatively new to the East Lothian golfing scene, having opened its fairways in 2001 but has already hosted national events, including the 2006 Scottish Amateur Strokeplay Championship.

Inspired by the great links golf courses of Britain, the Craigielaw course features challenging greens and cavernous bunkers as well as boasting spectacular views over the Firth of Forth, Gullane Hill and out towards Edinburgh and Fife.

The Club’s course is complimented by its short game and practice facilities, driving range and fully stocked professional shop which are second to none.

During her membership at Craigielaw, Gabrielle played in her first Scottish Girl’s Amateur Championship where she won the Ansley Reid Salver at Peterhead in 2007.

However, the highlight of Gabrielle’s Junior career has to be representing her beloved Scotland in the Girls Home Internationals of 2010.

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A platform for success Gabrielle Macdonald studied for a Geography degree at St Andrews. She left University with a 2:1 honours degree and a wealth of experience having lived at the home of golf for four years.

Whilst studying at St Andrews, Gabrielle was a key member of the Saints Golf programme there and was also captain of the Ladies team for two years. In 2013, she represented Scotland in the Ladies Home Internationals and, one year later, won the Ladies Close Amateur Championship at Prestwick in 2014.

Gabrielle has also represented Scotland at the European Ladies Team Championship in Slovenia as well as the Ladies World Team Championships in Japan.

Gabrielle credits her time at St Andrews for helping her golf development as well as the experience gained whilst representing Scotland in elite amateur events.

Gabrielle the Pro At the start of 2019, Gabrielle flew out to South Africa to embark on her first season as a tour playing professional.

She played in five events on the Ladies Sunshine Tour and finished 9th on the Tour’s Investec Order of Merit recording two top tens and two top 15 finishes.

Since then Gabrielle has been playing on the Ladies European Access Series (LETAS), the feeder tour to the LET. She played a total of 16 events, and made 14 cuts, finishing 26th on the season long Road to La Largue Order of Merit.

Gabrielle is hoping to continue her fine season by gaining her full LET card for the 2020 season at Qualifying School.

Supporting the local community On the 21st June 2019, Gabrielle Macdonald held a golf day at her home club of Craigielaw in order to raise funds for her first season as professional.

The twenty-one team Texas Scramble was extremely well received by members and local businesses alike. The sun made an appearance and a successful day was had by all. Gabrielle was also delighted to support St Columba’s Hospice and the Edinburgh Maggie’s Centre, two charities close to her heart.

Q & A with Gabrielle Macdonald Q. You have been playing golf since the age of ten, do you feel that golf has become more accessible to female golfers over the last 10 years ?

A.When I started playing golf, there was hardly any girls who were members at Prestonfield or Craigielaw and I mostly played with the junior boys. I think there are slightly more girls playing now but there is definitely a need to get more women and girls playing golf. I think a lot of male only golf clubs are now accepting women members and this can only help to make golf more accessible to females.

Q.With more lady golfers making headlines in the game of golf, what advice would you give to a promising young female golfer looking to make a career in the sport?

A.I think the most important thing for young golfers is to enjoy it and to play as much competitive golf as possible.

Q.Since turning professional, what are the main differences between the pro male circuit and the pro female circuit?

A.I’ve been playing on the Ladies European Tour Access Series (LETAS) which is similar to the mens Challenge Tour. I think the main difference is the prize money as I think the standard of golf and product is really high on both tours. The average purse on the LETAS is around €40,000 whereas the Challenge Tour is around €200,000.

Q.What is your most memorable experience as a professional golfer so far?

A.Starting my career out in South Africa was amazing, as I had never been there before and it was such a great country to visit. Teeing up in my first event as a pro at Fancourt and George GC was so exciting and this whole year has been a great experience for me.

Q.What impact do you feel that your home club Craigelaw had on your early days as junior?

A.Craigielaw has been a great place for my golf to develop. The junior team when I joined was really strong and it was great to be a part of the team’s success in the East Lothian league and we regularly won the national event for the best junior team in Scotland. I think the competitiveness of the team was an ideal environment for me to improve my golf.

Q.What expectations do you have for yourself for the forthcoming 2020 golf season?

A.I don’t really have any expectations other than to keep working hard and hopefully I can keep improving and the results will follow.

Q. What else do you think could be done to encourage more lady golfers ?

A.I think more coverage of women’s golf could help to create more interest and participation in the sport. If young girls see more of womens golf on tv it could help to inspire them to play and want to have a career in golf.

Many thanks to Gabrielle for taking the time to speak to Your Golfer Magazine

Find out more & follow Gabrielle www.gabriellemacdonald.com